Pregame: Anaheim Ducks @ Dallas Stars

NHL.com labeled it and Ducks.com promotes it so now its official, “Anaheim’s Viktor Fasth has made a seamless transition to the NHL and is causing perhaps the League’s best goaltender controversy outside of Vancouver.”

One thing about shameless promoters is they never let facts get in the way of a juicy story. There is no goalie controversy on the Anaheim Ducks. There won’t be a goalie controversy unless and until there’s a problem between Jonas Hiller and Viktor Fasth. Thus far, all the evidence indicates each goalie is a team first guy. Unless and until that changes, there is no goalie controversy involving the Anaheim Ducks. You are well served to ignore unfounded sensationalism. Even when yellow journalism is practiced by our Ducks front office.

Viktor Fasth is the hot hand. He earned the start tonight by shutting out the Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday.

The real story on this tilt is that our Ducks are facing a team on a winning streak. Stars have won two straight on the road and three of their last four games.

Our Ducks have won four straight. More importantly, Sheldon Souray summed it up recently saying our Ducks were looking to earn respect around the league.

Tonight our guys face a team that beat them in five of six head to head contests last season. And the Stars, though very different this year, are on a bit of a roll. With the favored to win the Western Conference St. Louis Blues on the docket tomorrow, our Ducks could be looking past the Stars.

Get out your measuring sticks as our Ducks get ready to focus on the game immediately in front of them and dispatch a nemesis of recent seasons.

A subplot is the all time goal scoring race between Jaromir Jagr and Teemu Selanne. Currently, Jagr is tied with Luc Robitaille in tenth spot. T is 12th just five goals behind. Barring injury, both JJ and T should enter the top ten all time this season.